Wilmington awarded $450K for Greenfield Park Lions Bridge project

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington is receiving $450,000 in federal funding toward a $1.1 million project to replace the Lions Bridge at Greenfield Park.

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources announced Tuesday that the city was awarded the money through the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The Lions Bridge Replacement Project will construct a new bridge to reconnect sections of Greenfield Park that were separated after the previous bridge was removed because of structural concerns.

According to the City of Wilmington, the new bridge will be larger and ADA-compliant, restoring pedestrian and bicycle connectivity around the park’s trail network.

The original Lions Bridge was built in the 1960s and stretched approximately 210 feet across Greenfield Lake. Some visitors also knew it as the “Turtle Bridge” or “Alligator Bridge,” and it appeared in the 1985 film “Silver Bullet.”

The bridge closed in October 2023 after a damaged pile caused significant settlement. It was later damaged by fire in October 2024 and demolished in early 2025.

The city estimates the replacement project will cost $1.1 million.

In addition to the newly announced $450,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, Wilmington has received a $500,000 grant through the Great Trails State Program for the project.

Planning and public engagement are now underway. The city says community feedback will help shape aesthetic portions of the design, including the bridge’s appearance, decking materials, railings, layout and potentially its landing areas.

Two public engagement events are scheduled. The first will be held during Recess at the Lake on Sunday, Sept. 27, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1941 Amphitheater Drive. Another will be held during Fall Fest at Maides Park on Friday, Oct. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. at 1101 Manly Ave.

Community engagement will continue through Oct. 31.

The city expects conceptual and detailed design work to continue through 2027, followed by permitting. The project is expected to go out for construction bids during the winter of 2027-28, with construction beginning in spring 2028.

The city currently anticipates completing the project and restoring the connection through Greenfield Park by late 2028.

Wilmington’s $450,000 award is part of nearly $4 million in Land and Water Conservation Fund grants awarded to nine local parks and recreation projects across North Carolina.